Charles Macdonald Concrete House Museum facts for kids
The Charles Macdonald Concrete House is a special two-story home in Centreville, Nova Scotia, Canada. Charles Macdonald, a local artist and factory owner, built it entirely from strong, reinforced concrete in 1910. This house is unique because concrete was not a common building material for homes back then!
Contents
The Story of Charles Macdonald and His House
Charles Macdonald was born in Centreville, Nova Scotia, on April 5, 1874. He learned how to build things by working in local factories, like one that made coffins and another that made carriages. He also worked as a ship's carpenter from 1898 to 1908. During a trip to Brazil, Charles saw many interesting buildings made of strong blocks, which sparked his imagination.
In 1910, Charles returned to Nova Scotia and started his own company, Kentville Concrete. He first built a one-story concrete factory. Later, in 1916, he married Mabel Misner. Charles then moved his factory and turned the original concrete building into their two-story home.
What Makes the House Special?
The inside of the house is full of concrete! The main hearth (fireplace area) is made of concrete and has cool pictures carved into it. Even the stairs and the bathtub are made of concrete. Outside, you can see a concrete fence, concrete garden sculptures, and fun concrete animals.
Charles Macdonald passed away on May 28, 1967. He left his amazing concrete home to the community of Centreville. By 1995, the house needed a lot of repairs. A local history lover helped raise money to buy the house. Since then, the Charles Macdonald House of Centreville Society has taken care of it.
Today, the house is a museum that is open during certain seasons. You can visit for free and see Charles Macdonald's artwork. You can also see beautiful rugs made by his wife, Mabel. In 1998, the Charles Macdonald Concrete House was officially recognized as a Provincially Registered Heritage Property, meaning it's an important historical site.
The Whimsical Faerie Cottages
During the 1930s, a time known as the Great Depression when many people didn't have much money, Charles Macdonald had fewer customers for his concrete business. So, he started a new project! Between 1934 and 1938, he built five small, colorful concrete cottages in Huntington Point, which overlooked the Bay of Fundy.
Unique Designs and Their Fate
These cottages were very imaginative and bright. People often said they looked like the kind of homes where Snow White and her seven dwarfs might live! Charles and Mabel kept one cottage for themselves. They rented out the others, but only to people they trusted to take good care of them.
Today, four of these special cottages are still standing: the Green Cottage, the Jefferson Cottage, the Blue Cottage, and the Macdonald Cottage. Sadly, the fifth one, called the Teapot Cottage, was taken down by its owners in 1982. The Blue Cottage was also declared a Provincially Registered Heritage Property in 1998, just like Charles's main house.
See also
